Stamp cut-off and affixing device for stamping machine



I March L 1966 s, SNYDER 3,238m83 STAMP CUT-OFF AND AFFIXING DEVICE FOR STAMPING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 9, 1961 4 he ts h t 1 L, 16 a... s. SNYDER STAMP CUT-OFF AND AFFIXING DEVICE FOR STAMPING MACHINE Original Filed 001:. 9, 1961 4 sheets-sheet 2 A raw/ma March L WW 1.. s. SNYDER 3,238,083

STAMP CUT-OFF AND AFFIXING DEVICE FOR STAMPING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 9, 1961 4 sheewsheet 5 L. s. SNYDER STAMI GUT-OFF AND AFFIXING' DEVICE FOR STAMPING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet United States Patent 3,238,@t3 STAMP CUT-BEE AND AFFIXING DEVICE FOR STAMPING MACHINE Lee S. nyder, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Stamplicator, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Uhio Original application Oct. 9, 1951, Ser. No. 143,370, new Patent No. 3,123,513, dated Mar. 3, 1964. Divided and this application Get. 28, 1963, Ser. No. 319,212

8 Claims. (Cl. 156-522) This application is a division of application Ser. No. 143,970, entitled Stamp Feeding and Affixing Device, filed in the United States Patent Office on Oct. 9, 1961, now Patent No. 3,123,513 and assigned to the same assignee as the present application and invention.

This invention relates generally to machines for affixing gummed postage stamps to flat pieces of mail. More specifically, the invention is a cut-off and affixing device for a hand-operated portable machine as shown in the parent application, Ser. No. 143,970, said machine being adapted to feed the gum-med stamps from a roll, to sever the stamps individually, and to apply the severed stamp under pressure to a piece of mail in a rapid, convenient manner.

The invention is disclosed in relation to the handling of gummed postage stamps of a standard type which are furnished in rolls, one face of the stamp having a watersoluble adhesive coating which is activated by moisture. The individual stamps are delineated by transverse rows of perforations, adapting the stamps normally to be torn from the strip to be moistened and applied to the mail by hand.

Described generally, the machine of the present application comprises a base and an actuating arm having one end pivotally connected to the base, the arm providing a selfcontained stamp magazine for confining a roll of stamps. The arm includes a feed mechanism for advancing the stamps from the roll toward the swinging end of the arm. A stamp cut-off device in accordance with the present invention is mounted on the swinging end of the arm. A pressure foot or pad, also in accordance with the present invention, resides above the cut-off device at the end of the arm and is adapted to press the stamp against the moistened surface of the letter as the stamp is severed from the strip by the cut-off device. The arm is normally spring-biased to an elevated position above the base, with the endwise stamp of the strip projecting in a cantilever fashion from the end of the arm below the pad, with its gummed side facing downwardly ready to be applied to the letter.

In operating the machine, the arm is depressed or pivoted downwardly by hand, causing the cut-off mechanism to sever the stamp, while the presser pad forces the stamp downwardly with its gummed side firmly into contact with the moistened surface of the letter to adhesively affix the severed stamp to the letter. The feeding mechanism is so arranged that the next stamp is advanced forwardly as the arm returns to its elevated position, in such manner that the next stamp projects from the end of the arm, ready to be applied when the arm is again swung downwardly through its stamp affixing stroke.

The primary object to the invention is to provide a cut-off device having a slidably mounted shear member "Ice which, on depression of the arm, is driven upward to perform its function.

An object of the invention is to provide a cut-off mechanism which is curved transversely in a manner to shear the curved stamp along a straight line.

Another object of the invention is to provide an affixing or pressure pad which imparts a wiping action to the stamp with respect to the moistened surface of the letter as the stamp is forced against the moistened surface, thereby to improve the adhesive bond of the stamp.

According to this arrangement, the presser pad is resiliently mounted on the arm and is so related to the cutoff mechanism that the cut-off mechanism contacts the surface of the base before the presser pad engages the stamp which projects through the opening of the cut-off mechanism. During continued downward arm motion, a shearing element of the cut-off mechanism, which contacts the base, is shifted upwardly relative to a shearing edge and severs the stamp across its perforated line; at about the same time, the forward edge of the presser pad engages the severed stamp. Continued downward motion of the arm to its downward limit springs the presser pad downwardly and forwardly and thus produces the wiping action which causes the stamp to be firmly afiixed to the moistened surface of the letter, thus completing the operation.

The various features and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description made with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a general side elevation of a stamp affixing machine, including stamp afiixing and cut-off device in accordance with the present invention, the parts being shown in the normal position with the actuating arm elevated above the base.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine, as projected from FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, Showing the displacement of the actuating arm downwardly toward the stamp affixing position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3, showing the position of the stamp cutoff or shearing mechanism when the actuating arm is in the position of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 3, showing the actuating arm in its final stamp afiixing position.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, showing the cut-off mechanism in its stamp shearing position corresponding to the arm position of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIGURE 4, detailing the stamp shearing apparatus and pressure pad.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIGURE 4, further detailing the stamp cut-off mechanism.

FIGURE 9 is a side view, partially in section, generally similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the motion of the stamp feed mechanism during the upward motion of the actuating arm after a stamp has been aflixed to a piece of mail.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view 3 taken along line 10-10 of FIGURE 9, illustrating the reciprocating block of the stamp feeding mechanism.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 10, further illustrating the feed mechanism of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIGURE 11, further illustrating the feed mechanism.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view, illustrating the reciprocating feed block which forms a part of the stamp feeding mechanism shown in FIGURES 11 and 12.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary sectional view of the forward portion of the actuating arm with a slightly modified cutoff mechanism and pressure pad mountable there- FIGURE 15 is a face view of the cutoff mechanism removed from the arm as viewed along the line 1515 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view of the modified structure, taken along line 1616 of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a face view of the cutoff mechanism as viewed along the line 1717 of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 18 is a cross-sectional view of the cutoff mechanism as taken along the line 18-18 of FIGURE 17.

Before describing the cutoff mechanism and presser foot in accordance with the present invention, the description below will develop briefiy the structure of the machine as a whole. The specific embodiment shown presents each stamp to be cut off in bowed form to the cutoff mechanism. That is, the stamp strip is convex as viewed from below, concave as viewed from above. Therefore the stamp strip is relatively stiff as compared to a planar strip.

Described with reference to FIGURES 1, 2, the stamp affixing machine incorporating this invention comprises, in general, a base 1. The lower edge of the base includes inturned ears 2, each ear including a button 3, adapted to support the machine upon the surface of the work table. An actuating arm, indicated generally at 4, is pivotally mounted within the base for swinging motion from the elevated position of FIGURE 1 to the stamp affixing or depressed position of FIGURE 5.

A roll of gummed stamps, indicated at 5, (FIGURE 9), is mounted within the rearward portion of the arm 4, with the stamps extending forwardly from the roll as at a, through the stamp feeding and guiding mechanism, which is indicated generally at 6. The roll of stamps 5 represents postage stamps of any denomination presently available, each individual stamp being delineated by a transverse row of perforations. The roll 5 may also represent other types of stamps, such as identifying labels and the like, which are delineated by transverse rows of perforations. In any event, the stamps are of standard type having the underside coated with water-soluble adhesive, which faces downwardly as the stamps issue from the machine. In the operation of the present machine, the surface of the piece of mail is moistened, the adhesive being activated as the stamp is applied under pressure to the moistened surface.

The forward of swinging end of the arm 4 includes a stamp shearing or cut-off mechanism in accordance with the invention, which is indicated generally at (FIG- URES l, 2). In the normal elevated position of the arm, as shown in these views, the endwise stamp 11 of the strip 5a extends through the cut-off mechanism, with its row of cross perforations aligned with the shearing element of the cut-off mechanism. The arrangement is such that the stamp 11 is sheared along the perforations as it is applied to the letter.

In general, moisture is applied to the upper surface of the letter 12 (FIGURE 2) by a moistening device, indicated generally at 13, which is mounted upon the end portion of the base 1. A presser foot or pad, in accordance with the invention, indicated generally at 14, is mounted upon the swinging end of the actuating arm 4 and resides immediately above the stamp 11 which projects in cantilever fashion from the end of the arm, as viewed in FIGURE 1. In order to impart stiffness to the stamp, adapting it to project in a straight line, as indicated, the feed and guide mechanism 6 is adapted to bow the stamp slightly in the transverse direction, as indicated in FIGURE 12. The longitudinal stiffness adapts the stamp to be applied directly to the moistened surface of the letter without buckling as the presser pad 14 is forced downwardly upon the stamp.

In utilizing the machine, the letter 12 to be stamped (FIGURE 2) is slipped longitudinally in place relative the base of the machine, as indicated by the upper horizontal arrow, such that moisture is applied to its upper surface by the moistening device 13. With the letter in place, the operator grasps the handle 15 and swings the arm downwardly as shown in FIGURES 3 and 5. As the arm reaches the position of FIGURE 3, the lower end of the cut-off mechanism 10 contacts the top surface of the base 1 adjacent the forward edge of the letter 12, at which point the stamp 11 is poised immediately above the moistened upper surface of the letter. Continued downward motion of the arm 4 causes the shearing element of the spring-loaded cut-off mechanism 10 to be shifted upwardly with respect to the arm, as indicated by a comparison of FIGURES 3 and 5. This motion causes the cut-off mechanism to shear the stamp along its line of perforations and, at the same time, brings the pressure pad 14 into engagement with the severed stamp in order to force its adhesive coating into pressure engagement with the moistened surface of the letter.

In order to improve the adhesive bond between the stamp and letter surface, the stamp is shifted forwardly a limited distance by the pad or foot 14, while under pressure, thereby to provide a wiping action with respect to the moistened letter surface. For this purpose, the pad 14 is yieldably mounted with respect to the arm 4 and its normal angle of tilt is such that the forward end of the pad first contacts the stamp during downward motion, as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 3. This contact is established at about the same time that the cut-off mechanism 10 severs the stamp along its line of perforations. Continued downward motion of the arm thus springs the pad 14 upwardly with respect to the arm, thus forcing the adhesively coated stamp downwardly, at the same time shifting the stamp along the moistened envelope surface, as indicated by the horizontal arrow in FIGURE 5, to produce the wiping action, thus securely bonding the stamp to the moistened surface.

After the stamp is thus affixed, the arm 4 is released and is returned to its normal elevated position, as indicated by the counterclockwise pointing arrow in FIGURE 9. The arm is biased in the upward direction by a spring 16 for this purpose. During the upward pivotal motion of the arm, the feed mechanism 6 engages the straight stamp strip 5a (FIGURE 11) and indexes the strip forwardly so as to advance the next stamp 11 forwardly through the cut-off mechanism to be applied to the letter during the next cycle of operation.

As noted above, the stamp feeding and guiding mechanism 6 is mounted within the actuating arm 4 and is arranged to advance one stamp 11 from the stamp roll 5 each time the arm returns to its elevated position. Described with reference to FIGURE 9, the arm 4 is mounted for swinging motion upon a pivot screw (not here shown) disposed Within the base 1, the screw passing through a downwardly depending limb 18 which forms a part of the arm 4. A tension spring, previously indicated at 16, has its lower end anchored, so as to bias the arm upwardly.

A side wall 27 of the arm forms a right angular section partially enclosing the feed and guide mechanism 6. The closure is completed by a detachable cover plate 28 (FIG. 1).

The cover plate 28 is removed in order to permit the stamp roll 5 to be loaded into the circular housing and to be loosely journaled upon the stud 36) (FIGURE 1). After inserting the roll, its forward portion 5a may be conveniently threaded through the feed and guide mechanism 6 and through the opening of the cut-off mechanism 10, with the leading stamp 11 projecting outwardly beneath the presser pad 14. After loading, the cover plate 28 is placed in position over the open side of the arm 4, with the stud 30 passing through an aperture in the cover plate. The knurled nut 34 is then threaded upon the stud 30 to clamp the cover plate in place.

As viewed in FIGURE 9, the lower edge of the cover plate 28 includes a right angular flange 35. This flange encloses the lower portion of the actuating arm. The flange 35 includes a leaf spring 36 which is riveted in place as at 37, The leaf spring is configurated to provide a forward portion 38 (FIGURE 12) spaced upwardly from the flange 35 to provide a yieldable section which coacts with the feed and guide mechanism 6, as explained later. The forward portion of flange 35 is notched out so as to expose the forward portion of the strip of stamps 5a for the convenience of the user.

As the strip of stamps 5a (FIGURE 9) passes from the roll 5, it advances across the upper end of a curved guide piece 41, which is secured within the cylindrical housing 25. From this point, the strip enters the feed and guide mechanism 6, which extends to the forward end of the arm 4. The feed and guide mechanism includes a guide block 42, which is preferably formed of metal and which is stationary relative to the feed block 51 (FIGURES 10, 11 and l2)v The guide block 42 is secured by screws 43 (FIGURE 12) passing through the side wall 27 of the arm (see also FIGURE 10). The stationary guide block 42 is generally U-shaped in cross section and its lower surface is curved transversely as at 44 to bow the stamp strip 5a, as best shown in FIGURE 12.

The stamp strip 5a is confined against the curved surface 44 by a pressure bar 45' (FIGURE 11). One end of the pressure bar 45, in the upstream direction of stamp advancement, is pivotally connected as at 46 to the side wall of the arm 4. As viewed in FIGURE 12, the pressure bar 45 is generally U-shaped in cross section, providing a pair of vertical limbs which embrace the opposite edge portions of the stamp strip 5a, so as to confine the stamp strip against the curved guide surface 44, thus bowing the strip transversely while providing clearance for the stamp indexing fingers, as explained later.

The pivot screw 46 for the pressure bar is clamped to the side wall of the arm by a nut, the head of the screw being seated against the opposite face of the side wall 27. A self-locking nut 50 (FIGURE 9) is threaded upon the end portion of the pivot screw 46 to loosely hold the pressure bar 45 in place.

The pressure bar 45 is swung downwardly for convenience in threading the stamp strip through the feed mechanism when the device is loaded. Thereafter, the bar is swung to its operating position (FIGURE 9), then the cover plate 28 is applied, as noted earlier. With the cover plate in position, the free forward portion 38 of the leaf spring 36 is brought into engagement with the pressure bar, thereby to force the bar lightly into engagement with the marginal portions of the edges of stamp strip 5a.

Feeding motion is imparted to the stamp strip by a reciprocating feed block 51 (FIGURES 913, which is slidably confined within the guide way 52 of the stationary block 42, The reciprocating block 51 is preferably formed of plastic, wood or a similar material and its forward portion is slotted as at 53 to accommodate a parallel group of feed fingers 54 which are pivotally mounted upon a pin 55 passing across the recess 53. A second cross pin 56 limits the upward motion of the fingers 54. These fingers are preferably formed of thin sheet metal and their outer swinging ends are tapered to a point as at 57 for gravity engagement with the perforations of the stamp 6 strip. It will be noted in FIGURE 11 that the stationary guide block 42 is provided with a rectangular clearance opening 58 to permit the pointed ends 57 of the fingers 54 to rest by gravity upon the upper surface of the bowed stamp strip 5a and to move in translation to feed stamps.

The transverse spacing of the fingers 54 corresponds to the spacing of the perforations; thus, a plurality of the fingers drop into the perforations during the feeding stroke, as indicated in FIGURE 11, to provide a positive feed or index motion. As viewed in FIGURE 12, the U- shaped pressure bar 45 provides clearance as indicated at 66 for the pointed end portions 57 of the feed fingers 54. As noted earlier, the stamp strip, by virtue of its transverse arch, is, sufiiciently stiff to support the fingers without springing downwardly. This arrangement permits the fingers to drop freely through the perforations, thereby to provide a positive engagement which brings about a highly efficient feeding action.

The reciprocating feed block 51 (FIGURE 11) is actuated relative to the arm 4 by a crank-shaped link or connecting rod 61 having one end pivotally connected as at 62 to the block and having its opposite end pivotally connected as at 63 to a fixed post 64. As viewed in FIG- URE 9, the fixed post 64 forms a part of the bracket 20 and is generally arcuate in configuration. The end 63 of the link passes through an arcuate clearance slot 65 (FIG- URE 9) formed in the side wall 27 of the actuating arm. Slot 65 permits the arm 4 to pivot with respect to the end 63 of the link. That is to say, as arm 4 is depressed clockwise the slot 65 slides over the crank portion 63.

By virtue of this arrangement, the reciprocating feed block 51 is effectively shifted rearwardly relative to the arm 4 during the downward movement of the arm from the position of FIGURE 1 to the position of FIGURE 5. This motion shifts the block 51 rearwardly a distance somewhat greater than the length of a stamp, as delineated by the rows of perforations. While the block 51 is in fact secured against translatory motion, the element 42 is moved forwardly in translation relative to block 51. Thus, when the arm reaches its lower limit of travel shown in FIGURE 5, the pointed ends 57 of the feed fingers will have retracted to a position slightly behind the next row of perforations. As the arm returns toward its elevated position, the link 61 advances the feed block effectively forwardly, as indicated by the arrow (FIGURE 11) in such manner that the pointed ends of the fingers drop into the perforations and feed the forward stamp 11 to its position beneath the presser pad 14 for the next cycle of operation. That is, the arm 14 turns counterclockwise (FIGURE 11) and the translatory motion of the element 42 is rearwardly relative to the feed block 51.

The cut-off mechanism 10 (FIGURES 3-8) is mounted upon the end wall 66 of the actuating arm by means of a pair of studs 67 threaded into the wall and passing through a spacer block 68. A shiftable shearing blade 70, having peripheral flanges 71, slidably interfits the spacer block 68. The blade 76 normally is urged downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 1 by a leaf spring 72 which is riveted as at 73 to the top wall 26 of arm 4. The central portion of blade is recessed as at 74 to provide clearance, adapting the blade to slide vertically with respect to the studs 67 along the spacer block 68.

The lower portion of blade 76 includes a generally triangular opening through which the stamp strip 5a passes as it is advanced by the feeding mechanism (FIG- URE 4). The lower portion of opening 75 is delineated by the angularly related shearing edges 76. A shear plate 77 is mounted in a fixed position upon the studs 67 and cooperates with the shiftable blade 70. The lower edge of the plate 77 includes a shearing edge 78 which resides 7 above the opening in the normal position of the shiftable blade 70, as shown in FIGURE 4.

As the arm 4 shifts downwardly from the position of FIGURE 3 to the position of FIGURE 5, the lower edge of the shiftable blade 70 engages the surface of the base 1 and is shifted upwardly relative to the fixed shear plate 77 from the position of FIGURE 4 to the position of FIGURE 6. During this motion, the inclined shearing edges 7676 of the shiftable blade 70 progressively shear the stamp strip against the stationary shearing edge 78. The shearing action starts at the outer edges of the stamp and progresses inwardly toward its center. The knife is shown in its upward limit at completion of the shearing stroke in FIGURE 6. In order to compensate for the bowed cross section of the stamp strip, the shiftable blade 70 and fixed shear plate 77 are curved slightly in cross section, as indicated in FIGURE 8.

As viewed in FIGURE 7, the presser pad subassembly, generally indicated at 14, is also mounted upon the studs 67. The pad 79 is formed of a yieldable material such as rubber or the like. In order to provide the wiping action, the pad 79 is mounted upon a generally right angular bracket 80 formed of a suitable grade of spring metal. The bracket includes apertures interfitting the studs 67 of the cut-off mechanism. The bracket 80 seats against the shear plate 77, the bracket and cut-off mechanism being secured in place by self-locking nuts 81 which are threaded upon the studs 67. In order to permit the shiftable blade 70 to reciprocate, each stud is provided with a spacer washer 82 disposed between the spacer block 68 and fixed shear plate 77. The washers 82 are disposed within the recess 74 of the shiftable blade 70, the arrangement being such that the nuts 81 may be tightened to clamp the fixed shear plate 77 and bracket 80 firmly in place, while permitting the blade 70 to be shifted during the shearing stroke without undue frictional resistance.

As noted earlier, the letters to be stamped are inserted by hand across the forward portion of the base 1 and through the moistening device 13 in a position to receive one or more of the stamps 11. The moistening device applies a film of moisture to the upper surface of the letter so as to activate the coating or gum or adhesive as the stamp is severed and pressed in place.

The modified cut-off mechanism shown in FIGURES 14-18 is similar in principle to the cut-off mechanism described above; however, the structure has been simplified to provide a one-piece unit which may be replaced in a convenient manner should the parts become worn. As shown in FIGURE 14, both the cut-off mechanism, indicated generally at 107, and the presser pad 108, are attached to a mounting plate 110. The mounting plate is attached by a pair of screws 111 to a slightly modified actuating arm, which is indicated generally at 112.

In the modified arrangement, the lower end of the mounting plate provides a shearing edge 113 (FIG- URE 15) coacting with the shearing edge 114 of a shiftable blade 115. The shear blade 115 is normally urged to its outwardly extended position by a tension spring 116. During the cutting stroke, the lower edge of the shiftable shear blade engages the top surface of the base and is shifted upwardly, counter to spring 116, to sever the stamp in the same manner as described earlier.

In order to yieldably mount the presser pad 108, the mounting plate 110 includes a pair of rivets 117 projecting outwardly, each rivet having a compression spring 118. A pad mounting plate 120 is seated against the outer surface of the knife mounting plate 110, under pressure imposed by the compression spring 118. The lower edge of the pad mounting plate 120 includes a pair of arms 121-121, the pad 108 being pivotally connected to the arms as at 122. In order to provide clearance for the ends of the rivets 117, the shiftable blade 115 is provided with longitudinal slots 123 in registry with the heads of the rivets (FIGURE 15).

At the time the stamp is sheared, the forward edge of the pressure pad 108 engages the stamp, as described earlier with reference to FIGURE 3. During continued downward motion, the compression springs 118 allow the pad mounting plate 120 to be sprung outwardly with respect to the plate 110, thus allowing the pad 108 to shift forwardly to impart the wiping action to the stamp with respect to the moistened letter surface.

The moistening device 13 (FIGURES l, 2, 3 and 9) comprising the elements listed below is fully described in the above-mentioned parent application, Ser. No. 143,970, to which reference is accordingly made, those elements being as follows:

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A cut-off mechanism for a device adapted to feed stamps from a continuous strip, said device having a base and an actuating arm having a rearward portion pivotally connected to the base, said arm having a swinging end and adapted to feed a stamp strip toward said swinging end, with the leading stamp thereof projecting beyond the swinging end, said cut-off mechanism comprising: A fixed shear blade mounted upon the swinging end of said arm and having a downwardly facing shearing edge, a shiftable shear blade slidably mounted relative to said fixed shear blade, said shiftable shear blade having an opening formed therein, adapting the leading stamp of the continuous stamp strip to be advanced therethrough, the lower edge of said opening being delineated by an upwardly facing shearing edge, means connected to said shiftable shear blade adapted to bias the same normally to a lowered position with respect to the fixed shear blade with the upwardly facing shearing edge of the shiftable shear blade residing below the downwardly facing shearing edge of the fixed shear blade, the shiftable shear blade having a lower edge adapted to impact against the surface of said base during downward pivotal motion of said arm, whereby the downwardly facing cutting edge is shifted downwardly relative to the said upwardly facing shearing edge to sever the leading stamp which projects outwardly through the opening of the shiftable shear blade.

2. A cut-off mechanism for a device adapted to feed stamps from a continuous strip, said device having a base and an actuating arm having a rearward portion pivotally connected to the base, said arm having a swinging end and being adapted to feed the stamp strip forwardly to said swinging end with the leading stamp thereof projecting beyond the swinging end, said cut-off mechanism comprising, a fixed shear blade mounted upon the swinging end of said arm and having a downwardly facing shearing edge, a shiftable shear blade slidably mounted relative to said fixed shear blade, said shiftable shear blade having an opening formed therein adapting the leading stamp of the continuous stamp strip to be advanced therethrough, the lower edge of said opening being delineated by an upwardly facing shearing edge, spring means connected to said shiftable shear blade adapted to bias the same normally to a lowered position with respect to the fixed shear blade with the upwardly facing shearing edge of the shiftable shear blade residing below the downwardly facing shearing edge of the fixed shear blade, said fixed end shiftable shear blades being curved in cross section, whereby said shearing edges are adapted to provide a shearing action along a curved line transversely across the stamp strip, the shiftable shear blade having a lower edge adapted to engage the surface of said base during downward pivotal motion of said arm, whereby the downwardly facing cutting edge is shifted downwardly relative to the said upwardly facing shearing edge to sever the leading stamp which projects outwardly through the opening of the shiftable shear blade.

3. A pressure foot for a device adapted to feed stamps from a continuous strip and to sever and .affix the stamps to pieces of mail or the like, said device having a base and an actuating arm including a rearward portion pivotally connected to the base, said arm having a swinging end and being adapted to feed the stamp strip forwardly to said swinging end with the leading stamp thereof projecting beyond the swinging end, said swinging end adapted to be shifted downwardly toward said base, said presser foot comprising, a mounting bracket secured to the swinging end of said arm, said mounting bracket having a foot portion projecting forwardly therefrom, a presser pad formed of resilient material mounted on the lower surface of said foot, said pad having a lower surface adapted to engage the surface of a stamp and piece of mail resting on said base during downward motion of the swinging end of said arm, said pad being adapted to impart a wiping action to the stamp relative to the surface of the piece of mail during downward motion of the pad to a final limit.

4. A presser foot for a device adapted to feed stamps from a continuous strip and to sever and afiix the stamps to pieces of mail or the like, said device having a base and an actuating arm including a rearward portion pivotally connected to the base, said arm having a swinging end and being adapted to feed the stamp strip forwardly to said swinging end with the leading stamp thereof projecting beyond the swinging end, said swinging end adapted to be shifted downwardly toward said base, said presser foot comprising a mounting bracket secured to the swinging end of said arm, said mounting bracket having a foot portion projecting forwardly therefrom, a presser pad formed of resilient material mounted on the lower surface of said foot, said pad having a lower surface adapted to engage the surface of a stamp and piece of mail resting on said base during downward motion of the swinging end of said arm, an angle to the plane of the base with the lower surface of said pad inclined with respect to the plane of a piece of mail resting on the base, said foot being yieldable relative to said arm, whereby continued downward motion of the arm imparts shifting motion to said pad in the plane of the base in response to the downward pressure imposed upon the pad, thereby to impart a wiping action to the stamp relative to the surface of the piece of mail during downward motion of the pad to a final limit.

5. In a stamp affixing machine of the type adapted to feed stamps from a continuous strip and having a base, an arm pivotally connected to the base, and feeding means for projecting outwardly a stamp to be severed during depression of said arm, the improvement which com prises, in combination: a first and downwardly facing shearing element fixed to said arm, and a second shearing element having an upwardly facing cutting surface slidably mounted on said arm for reciprocal displacement relative to said first shearing element, said second element being arrested by said base during depression of said arm while said arm moves said first shearing element downwardly whereby the stamp, projecting outwardly through said shearing elements, is severed from said strip.

6. The improvement in accordance with claim 5 in which the stamp affixing device includes means for bowing the stamp which projects outwardly so that the lower surface of said stamp is convex relative to the base.

7. The improvement in accordance with claim 6 in which the upwardly facing cutting surface is angular in form with the apex of the angle downward.

8. The improvements in accordance with claim 5 and a presser foot on said arm comprising a mounting bracket secured to the swinging end of said arm, said mounting bracket having a foot portion projecting forwardly therefrom, a presser pad formed of resilient material mounted on the lower surface of said foot, said pad having a lower surface adapted to engage the surface of a stamp and piece of mail resting on said base during downward motion of the swinging end of said arm, said pad being adapted to impart a wiping action to the stamp relative to the surface of the piece of mail during downward motion of the pad to a final limit.

said pad being disposed at No references cited.

EARL M. BERGET, Primary Examiner. D. I. DRUMMOND, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR A DEVICE ADAPTED TO FEED STAMPS FROM A CONTINUOUS STRIP, SAID DEVICE HAVING A BASE AND AN ACTUATING ARM HAVING A REARWARD PORTION PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE BASE, SAID ARM HAVING A SWINGING END AND ADAPTED TO FEED A STAMP STRIP TOWARD SAID SWINGING END, WITH THE LEADING STAMP THEREOF PROJECTING BEYOND THE SWINGING END, SAID CUT-OFF MECHANISM COMPRISING: A FIXED SHEAR BLADE MOUNTED UPON THE SWINGING END OF SAID ARM AND HAVING A DOWNWARDLY FACING SHEARING EDGE, A SHIFTABLE SHEAR BLADE SLIDABLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO SAID FIXED SHEAR BLADE, SAID SHIFTABLE SHEAR BLADE HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN, ADAPTING THE LEADING STAMP OF THE CONTINUOUS STAMP STRIP TO BE ADVANCED THERETHROUGH, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID OPEING BEING DELINEATED BY AN UPWARDLY FACING SHEARING EDGE, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID SHIFTABLE SHEAR BLADE ADAPTED TO BIAS THE SAME NORMALLY TO A LOWERED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE FIXED SHEAR BLADE WITH THE UPWARDLY FACING SHEARING EDGE OF THE SHIFTABLE SHEAR BLADE RESIDING BELOW THE DOWNWARDLY FACING SHEARING EDGE OF THE FIXED SHEAR BLADE, THE SHIFTABLE SHEAR BLADE HAVING A LOWER EDGE ADAPTED TO IMPACT AGAINST THE SURFACE OF SAID BASE DURING DOWNWARD PIVOTAL MOTION OF SAID ARM, WHEREBY THE DOWNWARDLY FACING CUTTING EDGE IS SHIFTED DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE SAID UPWARDLY FACING SHEARING EDGE TO SEVER THE LEADING STMP WHICH PROJECTS OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE OPENING OF THE SHIFTABLE SHEAR BLADE. 